Festo, a manufacturer of industrial automation parts, has introduced a first-of-its-kind intelligent service unit that automatically puts compressed air on standby when a machine stands idle, thus reducing energy consumption.
The E2M features a solenoid valve integrated with a pressure and a flow sensor in one compact package. A Profibus node provides communication between the E2M and a PLC. Festo plans to introduce Ethernet/IP and PROFINET communication options in 2016. The E2M flows up to 5,000 liters of compressed air per minute, programs easily, and offers fast connection to Festo MS series air preparation units.
These units also alert plant personnel to wasted energy when air leaks from a machine’s pneumatic system. The new Festo MSE6-E2M, or E2M for short, can pay for itself in less than a year.